Posted on October 9, 2013

CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ADA Foundation (ADAF), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Colgate-Palmolive Company today announced a joint initiative to enhance the ADA Foundation's existing dental research laboratory in Gaithersburg, Md., and to support and encourage promising young researchers.

The major gifts coincide with the renaming of the ADAF lab to honor Anthony Volpe, DDS, MS, who recently retired as Vice President of Clinical Research and Scientific Affairs at Colgate-Palmolive. The bulk of the funds will be used to hire a distinguished researcher as the Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Fellow. The funds also will be used to provide permanent support for the ADAF's Dental Student Conference on Research, an annual event that attracts about 50 of the most promising dental students from the U.S and Canada who are interested in careers in research. The conference, which will now be known as the Colgate Dental Student Conference on Research, will mark its 50th year in 2014.

"This is a milestone for the ADA Foundation and its research program," said David Whiston, DDS, president of the ADA Foundation. "Colgate and the ADA recognize the important history of this research facility and the role it will play in future groundbreaking research. They are making it possible for us to meet the ever-changing challenges of oral health care research. In addition, it signals our strong commitment to identifying and encouraging the most promising young researchers in the field."

"Tony Volpe has been a tireless advocate for dental research throughout a long career," said ADA President Robert A. Faiella, DMD, MMSc. "His contributions to dental research, dentistry and the public's oral health cannot be overstated. But beyond that, he has been extraordinarily successful in instilling the excitement of research in generations of young scientists. We are delighted to honor his distinguished career and proud to place his name on one of the world's premier dental research facilities."

Dr. Volpe has conducted clinical research programs around the globe, establishing Colgate's important presence with all the major global dental professional organizations. In addition to his pioneering work on the measurement of tartar, he has played a leadership role in developing other novel measurement procedures and has led breakthrough clinical research on plaque and gum disease control.

"Tony's commitment to education and development embodies our dedication to the next generation of dental researchers and continues the tradition of scientific excellence essential to advances in oral care," said Ian Cook, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate-Palmolive. "We are delighted that the facility will bear his name as testament to his lasting legacy among dental professionals at Colgate and the global dental community."

Dr. Volpe is the only dentist from industry ever elected President of the ADAF. He has received many prestigious dental awards and has published more than 200 scientific research reports in international dental journals.

Formerly known as the Paffenbarger Research Center, the newly renamed Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center laboratory facility is operated by the ADA Foundation and is located on the grounds of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a federal government research campus, where it has been since 1928. Previously operated by the ADA and then jointly by the ADA and the ADA Foundation, the lab conducts unique research in cutting-edge fields of biomaterial and tissue engineering technologies.